Do you have THAT closet? The one with all the obsolete gear that no one knows what to do with? Or maybe it isn’t just a closet. What if your unused gear—along with its cables and cords—is overflowing onto cabinets, counters, and every corner of your production space?
The problem in dealing with obsolete AV gear is that no one really owns it. You didn’t buy it. So, even if it isn’t being used, it can feel uncomfortable to take on the authority to say, “This has got to go.”
The problem in dealing with obsolete AV gear is that no one really owns it. You didn't buy it. It can feel uncomfortable to say, "This has got to go."
But what if you could help your church convert the unused clutter into something that will work for your ministry right now? Something like freed-up space and some extra cash.
You probably already know about resources like eBay and Craigslist for liquidating unused items, but here are five other ways to change your church’s unused tech into cash for ministry:
1-Audiogon
Audiogon (http://www.audiogon.com ) is the largest site for selling (and buying) high-end audio gear. It reports over 400,000 users and 8 million monthly page views—all focused exclusively on audio. This sole focus makes Audiogon the go-to marketplace for people who are looking for used speakers, amplifiers, consoles, microphones, and all kinds of ancillary equipment.
Not sure what a piece of gear is worth? No problem. Audiogon has an Audio Bluebook to help you set the price. Audiogon makes its money through a transaction fee. They also have reduced rates if you pay upfront.
2-Adorama
On the video production side, Adorama (https://www.adorama.com/pages/usedQuote) gives quotes on used cameras and video production equipment. To sell to Adorama, you enter individual pieces of gear into a form online, then Adorama will email a prepaid, insured UPS shipping label to send in your equipment at the company's expense. Once the evaluation is complete, an agent contacts you with an offer. If you accept the offer, the options are: a check in the mail, direct deposit, or you can immediately use the credit toward any purchase. If a deal is not made, Adorama returns the merchandise to you, fully insured, at its expense.
3-Letgo
For larger items that are a pain to ship, Letgo (https://us.letgo.com/en) is a free, person-to-person mobile classifieds app that allows users to buy from, sell to, and chat with others, locally. Letgo has both “tech” and “entertainment” sections and can be useful for liquidating a variety of computer and AV gear.
Similar to Craigslist, sellers post an item and wait for a buyer to contact them, but Letgo features a much more polished user interface. The Letgo app is available from the iPhone app store or Google Play for Android. (The app is not available for Windows phones.)
4-Flipsy
Many retailers like BestBuy and Target offer buy-back programs for used tablets and phones. You can maximize your return (and save yourself a lot of time) by checking values of the equipment first on Flipsy (https://flipsy.com).
Flipsy monitors transactions to determine current market values. It also offers a search engine that compares buyback offers for you (what sellers can instantly get paid for their items) allowing you to quickly choose the retailer or service who will give you the best price.
5-Host a tech recycling day
Bubb Fundraising (http://www.bubbfundraising.com ) is a recycling program designed to raise money for groups like churches and schools by collecting used items. You host a recycling day at your site where not only can you dispose of your unwanted gear, but other people bring theirs. Bubb pays—at pickup—based on the quantity collected. And pickup is free.
Bubb only collects certain items, but the list is deep when it comes to computers, cameras, office equipment, multimedia, portable electronics and instruments. Not only can you raise funds for your church and free up space, but this approach also helps bring the benefit of getting rid of clutter to your whole community.
Still unconvinced?
It’s easier not to do anything with used gear because you might need a particular piece of gear “someday.”
Sometimes, cleaning out closets is just good stewardship.
But consider that most of the gear we hang onto depreciates in value at a rapid pace. And instead of collecting dust, your equipment could be providing value to someone out there right now. Sometimes, cleaning out closets is just good stewardship.
Of course, the other challenge to overcome is that clearing out gear can also take some sweat. Luckily, you don’t have to do it alone.
So, pick your day, grab some volunteers, roll up your sleeves and start sorting.
Who knows, you might wind up with enough funds to get something your church truly needs right now.
